Backup — original pdf

Backup

WHEREAS The foundation of health in Austin and Travis County is shaped by longstanding structural conditions. Historical patterns of racial segregation, economic exclusion, and neighborhood disinvestment continue to influence present- day access to education, income, and opportunity. These inequities are especially pronounced in East Austin, where residents face compounded disadvantages, and WHEREAS the City of Austin 1928 Master Plan designated then East Avenue as the dividing racial line between East and West Austin, and WHEREAS Interestate 35 later replaced East Avenue, serving as a reinforced physical barrier between East and West Austin, and WHEREAS Interstate 35 tra(cid:431)ic and congestion have exacerbated health disparities of those living in East Austin, leading to less access to quality care and healthy foods, increased rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes and infectious disease, poor maternal health outcomes, and increased socioeconomic inequities, and WHEREAS Interstate 35 creates chronic stressors such as tra(cid:431)ic noise, heat, and pollution, leading to poor mental health and stress of those living nearby, and WHEREAS City Council has touted Cap and Stitch as a once in a generation opportunity to repair the physical divide created by Interstate 35 and assist in repairing over 100 years of segregation, and WHEREAS City Council has welcomed the creation of new public spaces for civic participation and unlocking long-term economic and community benefits, and WHEREAS Neighborhoods east of Interstate 35 tend to have a lower life expectancy compared to neighborhoods west of Interstate 35, ranging as low as 69 years old in east Austin and as high as 88 years old in west Austin, reflecting long-standing inequities in the social and economic conditions that shape health outcomes, and WHEREAS Data show that residents in historically underserved areas, particularly in East Austin, continue to experience shorter lifespans due to higher rates of chronic disease, fewer health care options, and limited access to other key resources, pointing to the urgent need for place-based investments and equity-focused public health strategies to close the life expectancy gap and improve outcomes for all residents, and WHEREAS The conditions of the neighborhoods where people live have a direct and lasting impact on health outcomes. Insecure housing, poor walkability, exposure to tra(cid:431)ic dangers, and gaps in infrastructure don’t just limit mobility, they compound stress, restrict access to services, and contribute to chronic disease, injury, and mental health challenges. These disparities reflect systemic patterns of underinvestment and exclusion, particularly in east Austin, and WHEREAS Advancing health equity in Austin requires ensuring that every neighborhood is safe, connected, and built to support well-being. Investing in a(cid:431)ordable housing, inclusive design, and safer streets is not only about infrastructure, but also about the health and dignity of every resident, and WHEREAS the 2025 Austin Heat Resilience Playbook emphasizes that communities with less tree coverage, more impervious surfaces, and greater social vulnerability (e.g., older adults, low-income residents, outdoor workers) experience higher exposure to extreme heat and related health risks. These conditions are particularly concentrated in parts of East Austin, and WHEREAS The Safe for All: 2023 Update Report underscores that tra(cid:431)ic safety in Austin is deeply intertwined with racial and socioeconomic inequities that have been shaped by decades of discriminatory land use and transportation policies. Although Black Austinites comprise less than 7% of the city’s population, they account for nearly 16% of those seriously injured or killed in crashes—a disparity especially pronounced in motor vehicle and pedestrian incidents. These patterns are not incidental; they reflect the enduring impact of policies such as the 1928 City plan, redlining, and infrastructure decisions like the construction of Interstate 35, which fragmented communities of color and created lasting disparities in access, mobility, and exposure to tra(cid:431)ic risk, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Austin Travis County Public Health Commission recommends that City Council: Reserve and dedicate 19.28% of tax revenues generated from businesses and activities that take place on the Cap and Stitch elements of Interstate 35 to a public health fund to be used by Austin Public Health to intentionally address the various health inequities that Interstate 35 has directly and subsequently inflicted upon the residents of Austin, specifically in East Austin and other areas where East Austin residents have been displaced to. These dedicated funds generated from a once in a generation opportunity that aims to repair the harm created by the interstate are a concrete action that City Council can take to ensure steps are made to truly address these health inequities while also providing a sustainable funding source for Austin Public Health.